Do you have pics?

scratch the branch in question with your fingernail, if you see green it's still viable. If not, it's dead and you can remove it.

If a whole branch lost leaves, generally it's dead.

What part of the world are you located in?

potting up a rootbound plant actually will not help. It would need a repot. However, this is not the best time of year for that.

i also don't believe the tree being rootbound had much to do with the shedding of leaves.

How do you water? How do you fertilize? How much light does the tree receive?

Hello Dave, thank you for your reply.no I am not able at this time to take pics.when I took the plant out of the pot, it was completely root bound,had not had fresh soil in years.only moved it up to the next size pot.I'm located in no. California.Its been in the same location for at least four years,in a plant room under a sola tube,and about four feet from east window.i only water it when it's dry about a couple inches down .I don't feed it in winter at all.The ficus has settled down,hasnt lost any more leaves since I repotted it.was curious to find out if it might put out new leaves where the old ones used to be.I will check the branches tomorrow morning to see if they have green in them.these were thin branches,not any large or thick.oh,it happens to be a variegated one.thanks again.

You said potted up in your first post and repotted in your last.

potting up: removing plant from pot with soil and roots intact. Placing in new pot with fresh soil on the bottom and sides.

repotting: removing from pot and removing ALL soil from in and around the rootmass. Untangling and possibly pruning roots. Returning to same pot or one larger with 100% fresh soil.

Which did you do? Potting up will not help a rootbound plant. It will continue to go downhill until the root issues have been addressed.

do you flush the soil when watering so 10-15% of the volume of water comes out the drain hole? (It has a drain hole right?).

regular flushing needs to be done or you'll be dealing with buildups from tap water and fertilizer.

I don't think the dead branches will come back.

photos help us help you greatly.

No problem.

Id love to see the tree, especially since you've had it since 98! It must be pretty big.

Mine is about 7' but I've only had it a couple years. I do put it outside during the summer in full sun, so it puts on a ton of growth yearly.

I grow all of mine in the 5:1:1 mix.

Sounds a little like root rot I think Cal to change PH could safe it but don't tale my word as a remote diagnoses are nest to impossible to get right.

Without seeing the plant, I don't think we can say it would be root rot.

adding dolomite lime for calcium would do nothing to combat root rot.

Ficus will lose leaves for a veriety of different reasons.

Seeing is the only way to know for sure.